Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench, pronounced US: /ˈoʊkrə/, UK: /ˈɒkrə/, known in many English-speaking countries as lady's fingers or gumbo) is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. Originating in Africa, the plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.[1]
If I’m feeling ill, or gloomy, Gari and Okro is the surefire remedy. I, unlike my father am particular about how mucilaginous my Okro is. The “draw” must be light. The Okro must be cut in big chunks, the seeds intact, retaining a bursting texture between the teeth. The cut up Okro must be drowned in water and boiled for barely ten minutes. A few slivers of onion, one hot pepper, a grudging spoon of palm oil, and salt is all that I permit. At the end of cooking, the Okro must be green not muggy.
There must not be any tarnish of meat in this meal. The accompanying Gari must be Ijebu. It must make your teeth jump.
There it is, what some might consider an absurd favourite food mission statement. I have heard stranger ones, like that of a very highly esteemed Nigerian entrepreneur who I dare not name, who worships his combination of Quaker Oats and Ewedu! The facts about this much maligned, roundly snubbed, oftentimes fervently hated Okro are amazing to read. Here are my favourites: Femi Kusa’s column in The Nation; Natural Remedies for Sound Body and Mind on January 14th 2010 gives a glowing acknowledgment on the Okro plant. He says, in a wonderfully melodramatic way (that only a true Nigerian can put it) that “...the chlorophyll, blood of the [Okro], converts to human blood, leaving behind lots of magnesium to power and calm the muscles, particularly the heart.” The mechanics of Okro turning to human blood has something very Africa Magic about it, but like we say, “idea is need!” Kusa goes on to say that Okro pods are loaded with Vitamin A, and the contentious “draw” is Calcium. Vario us sites on the Internet suggest Okro also contains Folic acid, iron, potassium, protein, and Vitamin C. One site goes on to claim that it is the secret of Cleopatra and Yang Guifei’s beauty. Yang Guifei by the way is a Chinese consort who lived in the Tang Dynasty, considered an exquisite beauty. Okro apparently protects the skin from breaking out in pimples.
Okro Coffee is made from roasted, ground and brewed Okro seeds! Eating the Okro pod protects the human body from diseases ranging from diabetes, high cholesterol, colon cancer, atherosclerosis, to lung inflammation, cataracts and depression. Okro is a two way lubricant, as Okro soup, helping to pass the “swallow” down the esophagus, and also at the other end, lubricating the large intestine...enough said! It is supposedly a cure for constipation, which is in itself possibly groundbreaking since alternative medical practitioners believe all disease begins in the colon.
Nigerians seem to be the only ones who call it that audibly uncomfortable vibrating name with an “r” that sounds like the “draw” in the soup. Cuba’s “Quimgumbo” sounds closely inelegant.
Nigerian mothers own a shocking adage for putting their children no matter how old they are in their place. It says: No matter how tall the Okro plant grows, it must always bend for the owner to pluck it! Enid Donaldson in her cookbook, The Real Taste of Jamaica suggests an interesting way of cooking the Okro. “Ochroes” are washed and drained, one egg is separated, the yolk beaten first, the white added after. The whole Ochroes are dropp ed in the beaten egg, and then into a mixture of cornmeal, flour and salt. They are fried in oil in a heavy skillet until browned lightly, drained and served hot with salt. The crispy outside texture balanced by the soft inside texture is delicious.
South Asians cook their Okro called “Bhindi” in curries with garam masala, cumin, turmeric and lemon juice (which I suppose minimizes the sliminess). Junji Takano, a Japanese health researcher suggests eating Okro raw, mixed with mayonnaise or with vinegar and pepper.
...I mustn’t forget that man arrested by NDLEA at Seme, on his way to Cotonou to board a plane to Italy with 1kg of cocaine suspended in Okro soup, as reported by The Nigerian Voice News on June 3rd 2010...
There is that matter of “Okro soup in dre ams” which I’m not even going to bring up here. It seems that many foods that are good for us get thrown on the rubbish heap on the back of silly superstition. But then again perhaps it is God’s providence that allows these unfo unded beliefs so that Okro like Mackerel (Oku eko) remains affordable for the poor, the “Mekunu”.
We’ve often sat around and discussed my father’s youthfulness, he rarely falls ill, and has an unflustered live and let live personality. Perhaps we should all be eating Okro with everything.
by yemisi ogbe 234next adapted by Weboga
